Lightweight 300 wsm: factory rifle or custom?

[Bak222]

I want to get a lightweight 300 wsm for elk hunting. I want a 20 in threaded barrel for portability, I plan to run it suppressed. I understand I’ll lose some performance with the shorter barrel, I’m okay with that. I’d much prefer stainless or other weather resistant metals as I don’t plan to baby this thing.

I really like the tikka t3x lite SS or veil alpine, or browning x bolt hells canyon speed. Can’t find a tikka in stock, and don’t think the browning will work to cut to 20 and thread with the fluting in the barrel.

ive never built a custom rifle. Trying to figure out if I’m better off just building a semi custom what I want, or holding out to find a tikka or something similar (possibly used) and cutting/threading the barrel. Cost is a factor, I still need to buy nice glass so I’d like to keep it reasonable. Open to any suggestions, Thanks for the input!

 

[Wrench]

How much are you willing to spend and what is important to you besides the length?

You can cut and thread a stock rig for > $150.00. A custom will be closer to $4k.

Other options are kimber Montana $1k or a 70/700 in an edge fill or similar stock for $1500.

All of the above can be quite accurate, but do know that a light 300 can make a shooter with any form issues look like a shotgun.

 

[Bak222]

How much are you willing to spend and what is important to you besides the length?

You can cut and thread a stock rig for > $150.00. A custom will be closer to $4k.

Other options are kimber Montana $1k or a 70/700 in an edge fill or similar stock for $1500.

All of the above can be quite accurate, but do know that a light 300 can make a shooter with any form issues look like a shotgun.

Not $4k. $2k max, preferably closer to $1500. Barrel length, weather resistant barrel/action, lightweight, <1 MOA, and good trigger are really my only must haves that I can think of at this point. Good stock is important, but I’m aware I can swap those out. Sounds like I might be better off finding something I like and either cutting or just swapping out the barrel and I can still be way under 4K.

Now to figure out what rifle I want to start with.
Thanks!

 

[HiMtnHntr]

Have you checked gunbroker? Don't overlook Sako either.

 

[Deadspace]

If you’re going to go semi custom and want to use it this year, get the barrel ordered now. I just got my tikka prefit from McGowen and ordered it about 16 weeks ago.

 

[Bak222]

If you’re going to go semi custom and want to use it this year, get the barrel ordered now. I just got my tikka prefit from McGowen and ordered it about 16 weeks ago.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Bak222]

So I think my plan is to get a rifle and swap out the barrel. Would tikka be the best option? Seems hard to beat at the price

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

I want to get a lightweight 300 wsm for elk hunting. I want a 20 in threaded barrel for portability, I plan to run it suppressed. I understand I’ll lose some performance with the shorter barrel, I’m okay with that. I’d much prefer stainless or other weather resistant metals as I don’t plan to baby this thing.

I really like the tikka t3x lite SS or veil alpine, or browning x bolt hells canyon speed. Can’t find a tikka in stock, and don’t think the browning will work to cut to 20 and thread with the fluting in the barrel.

ive never built a custom rifle. Trying to figure out if I’m better off just building a semi custom what I want, or holding out to find a tikka or something similar (possibly used) and cutting/threading the barrel. Cost is a factor, I still need to buy nice glass so I’d like to keep it reasonable. Open to any suggestions, Thanks for the input!

I've read a few of your posts on this subject lately and there's a couple things I'm still unclear about in terms of your overall objective.

-Are you a handloader or do you plan to be?
-Are you looking to shoot long range (beyond 600 yards)?
-Do you plan on shooting heavier bullets in the 208-215 grain range?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then building your own custom/semi custom makes the most sense.
You don't have to spend anywhere near $4000 either.
Here's a quick rundown on a build

TIKKA t3 donar rifle $600
Custom prefit barrel with threads $500-600
Hells canyon tikka wsm mag $89
Stock upgrade Mesa Altitude $600
Semi custom total $1900 ish

If you want to go with a custom action and don't need more than 3" of mag length I'd go this route

MAC BROS EVO action $575
Triggertech special $175
Hawkins bdl bottom metal $150
Wyatts extended mag and follower $75
$600 for a custom barrel
$600 for a CF stock of your choice
Full custom for $2175

Don't waste money on a CF barrel you won't save any weight at 20", a #4 should work with 5/8×24 threads at that length

 

[Wrench]

I've read a few of your posts on this subject lately and there's a couple things I'm still unclear about in terms of your overall objective.

-Are you a handloader or do you plan to be?
-Are you looking to shoot long range (beyond 600 yards)?
-Do you plan on shooting heavier bullets in the 208-215 grain range?

If you answered yes to any of those questions then building your own custom/semi custom makes the most sense.
You don't have to spend anywhere near $4000 either.
Here's a quick rundown on a build

TIKKA t3 donar rifle $600
Custom prefit barrel with threads $500-600
Hells canyon tikka wsm mag $89
Stock upgrade Mesa Altitude $600
Semi custom total $1900 ish

If you want to go with a custom action and don't need more than 3" of mag length I'd go this route

MAC BROS EVO action $575
Triggertech special $175
Hawkins bdl bottom metal $150
Wyatts extended mag and follower $75
$600 for a custom barrel
$600 for a CF stock of your choice
Full custom for $2175

Don't waste money on a CF barrel you won't save any weight at 20", a #4 should work with 5/8×24 threads at that length

This assumes you are doing all of the chambering, finishing, assembly and bedding yourself.

 

[Bak222]

This assumes you are doing all of the chambering, finishing, assembly and bedding yourself.

Which I would not be doing

 

[Deadspace]

I’ve built the exact rifle you might end up building. Here is what it cost me total using a smith and carbon barrel.

T3x rifle- $700
Allterra Stock- $550
Hells Canyon mag- $80
Hells Canyon Bottom Metal- $180
Bedding job by Hells Canyon- $125
Carbonsix barrel- $700

$2,335 total.

 

[Bak222]

I’ve built the exact rifle you might end up building. Here is what it cost me total using a smith and carbon barrel.

T3x rifle- $700
Allterra Stock- $550
Hells Canyon mag- $80
Hells Canyon Bottom Metal- $180
Bedding job by Hells Canyon- $125
Carbonsix barrel- $700

$2,335 total.

That is very similar to what I would be doing. What caliber did you do?

 

[Deadspace]

That is very similar to what I would be doing. What caliber did you do?

I went with a 6.5 PRC. With a swfa 3-9x42 it weighs in ready to hunt at 8lb 13oz with a TBAC ultra 7 can.

I also have an 18” McGowen barrel chambered long for a 300 WSM with 215 Bergers. I’m dropping that tikka in an XLR chassis. Believe it or not, it’ll actually come in a little lighter at 26 ounces. That ultralight Alterra stock with bottom metal came in at 32 ounces once bedded. I did add two gunsmith adapters though, so that probably added two extra ounces.

 

[Bak222]

I went with a 6.5 PRC. With a swfa 3-9x42 it weighs in ready to hunt at 8lb 13oz with a TBAC ultra 7 can.

I also have an 18” McGowen barrel chambered long for a 300 WSM with 215 Bergers. I’m dropping that tikka in an XLR chassis. Believe it or not, it’ll actually come in a little lighter at 26 ounces. That ultralight Alterra stock with bottom metal came in at 32 ounces once bedded. I did add two gunsmith adapters though, so that probably added two extra ounces.

How does that 18” shoot? I was planning on going with a 20, but assumed performance would start to suffer pretty bad below that

 

[Deadspace]

How does that 18” shoot? I was planning on going with a 20, but assumed performance would start to suffer pretty bad below that

They just emailed me the other day saying it’s finished so I won’t have any info on performance for a few weeks. I’ll be running it suppressed as well and as long as I’m still at 1800 FPS at 600/700 yards I’ll be happy.

 

[Bak222]

They just emailed me the other day saying it’s finished so I won’t have any info on performance for a few weeks. I’ll be running it suppressed as well and as long as I’m still at 1800 FPS at 600/700 yards I’ll be happy.

Keep me posted if you remember! I’m interested to see how it does

 

[Bak222]

They just emailed me the other day saying it’s finished so I won’t have any info on performance for a few weeks. I’ll be running it suppressed as well and as long as I’m still at 1800 FPS at 600/700 yards I’ll be happy.

Keep me posted if you remember! I’m interested to see how it does

 

[762 ULTRAMAGA]

This assumes you are doing all of the chambering, finishing, assembly and bedding yourself.

No those numbers include everything except bedding (which is stupid simple)

 

[shax2lex]

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money, then I’d have to go with the guy up top that said buy a donor Tikka action and get a prefit barrel. If you can’t afford some of the nicer, lighter chassis’s or stocks, look at a KRG Bravo. You can probably pick one up for like $300 used. It is fully adjustable, will take any barrel you want, and takes AI Mag mags. You will be set.

Remember about the Tikka’s, you are best to have a gunsmith remove the factory barrel. they crank it on and possibly glue it. After your gunsmith relief cuts it, it will spin right out. Best of luck.

If you do decide to spend some money, then go custom. I just sold my defiance deviant tactical action to buy a Terminus Zeus action that can take hand threaded barrels. I can switch my bolt and swap barrels to go from 223 to 6.5CM/308win to 6.5PRC/300wsm.